Coastal Vegetation and the National Vegetation Classification

The most comprehensive wide coverage of the present knowledge of coastal vegetation in Britain is provided by the National Vegetation Classification the NVC (Rodwell 2000). The techniques used and approach to data analyses are given in an "Introduction" to each volume of British Plant Communities. Stands of vegetation were chosen on the basis of their relative homogeneity in composition and structure. Data were recorded in quadrats of 2 x 2 m for short herbaceous vegetation, 4 x 4 m for taller or more open vegetation and 4 x 2 m for linear vegetation. Samples were recorded on standard sheets and subjected to standard analytical procedures. They are presented as phytosociological tables of community types on roughly the same scale as a 'Braun-Blanquet association'.

Sampling and Analysis of Shingle Vegetation

The most relevant section of the NVC for shingle is included within the section on 'shingle, strandline and sand-dune communities' (Rodwell 2000). However, Rodwell admits that "coverage of shingle features around the coast (is) less (than) adequate and ….we did not incorporate developing surveys of Dungeness by Dr Brian Ferry and of very many shingle beaches around the coasts of England and Wales by Pippa Sneddon working with Dr Roland Randall. Probably at least one further community could be added to our account from these surveys." Suggestions are made to augment this work with a more detailed survey of shingle shorelines.

References

Rodwell, J.S. 2000. British Plant Communities. Volume 5 Maritime Communities and Vegetation of Open Habitats. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 512 pp.